Joint brace for reducing swellings



July 13, 1948. R. HALYAR'D v 2,445,173

JOINT BRACE FOR REDUCING SWELLINGS Orignai Filed Jan. 29, 1944 A TWRNEY Patented July 131948 Jomr s Acc Fon REDUCING swELLINGs f v Rosalielle; l-Ialyard, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Refiled for application Serial No. 520,224, January 29, 1944. This application October 10, 1945,

Serial No. 621,455

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a joint brace for reducing swelling.

This is a rele of my original application led January 29J 1944, Serial Number 520,224 now abandoned.

More specically, the invention proposes the construction of a joint brace 'adapted to be engaged upon ones finger, wrist, ankle or similar joint to apply pressure thereto to reduce swelling and support the injured member in a rigid state to assist it to return to a normal condition, and to reduce pain.

Stili further it is proposed to characterize the joint brace by a flexible band of rubber, cloth or similar material arranged in a manner to encircle the joint, and which is provided with a support strip adjustably mounted thereon for transmitting a .firm supporting pressure to the joint or limb.

Another object of the invention proposes characterizing the support strip by a piece of flexible metallic material disposed between layers of the flexible band and provided With portions extended therefrom in a manner to be shifted relative to the flexible band to assume the most comfortable position about the injured joint or limb.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth'.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a View of a hand provided with a linger brace and a wrist brace, constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 isa sectional view through the linger brace taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the wrist brace taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a perspective developed view of the wrist brace.

Fig. 6 is a section-al view taken on the line S-G of Fig. 5.

The joint brace for reducing swelling, according to this invention, is illustrated in the form of an article for use upon ones lingers or toes. It is characterized by a flexible band II) which is constructed of layers of cloth material, but which may also be constructed of leather, rubber or other similar material. The edge portions of the layers IU are secured together by means of stitches 2 II. The flexible band is adapted to be engaged over ones joint or limb and is provided with a tab portion I2 by which the band may be gripped for assisting its positioning upon the nger or limb.

A support strip I3 is adjustably mounted on the band It for transmitting a firm supporting pressure upon the joint or limb. This support strip is characterized by a strip of exible metal material disposed between the layers Ill. The ilexible strip I3 has its ends I4 rolled and extended through an elongated slot I5 formed in the outermost layer Ill. The extension of the rolled ends of the metallic strip I3 through the slot I5 permits the strip I3 to be adjusted relative to the flexible band to engage about the injured area at a most comfortable position and apply pressure thereto to reduce the swelling.

In Figs. 4-6 the joint brace is characterized by a device for encircling ones wrist, ankle or other similar area. It is characterized by a llexible band 2i! formed of superimposed layers of material and provided at one end with tab portions ZI for assisting in engaging the band 2i! in position. The opposite end of the band 20 is provided with an elongated slot 22 through which the tabs are adapted to be projected, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. After being projected through the slot 22 the tabs 2I are adapted to be engaged about the band 2G in opposite directions to be tied together on the side of the band opposed to the side formed with the slot 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

A support strip 23 of metal material is disposed between the layers of the exible band and has one end 24 rolled and projected through an elongated slot 25 formed in the topmost layer of the flexible band ZI'I. The rolled end 24 of the support strip 23 permits the position of the support strip 23 to be adjusted relative to the flexible band 2B to assume a most comfortable position upon the injured area. The support strip 20 is formed with an open side 26 permitting the removal of the support strip 23 from its normal position between the layers of the flexible band 20, permitting the flexible band to be easily laundered.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United, States Letters Patent is:- l

layers.

ROSABELLE HALYARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,709,635 Skaglund Apr. 16, 1929 2,068,173 Galves Jan. 19, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 553,111 France May 14, 1923 313,626 Germany July 16, 1919 318,726 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1929 

